Ed Bond: Movement is out of control

When I first saw pictures of the violence and chaos in Oakland involving the Occupy movement, I thought they must be from Greece or some Third World country. But, no, this is happening right here in our backyard. What started out being a movement protesting big business has become a headless mob with various objectives, or no objectives at all, except to create chaos and anarchy by some in the group. The Oakland mob is not the only one out of control, as a recent report revealed that prisoners who are released from New York's infamous Rikers Island jail go immediately to Wall Street, where they can get free food and a place to stay and commit whatever crimes they want without fear of being apprehended.

What's ironic about this movement in the U.S. is that the first protestors were demanding the fall of Wall Street and the very institutions that hold and invest the assets of their retirement plans, as union and non-union plans alike invest in Wall Street. To hear union leaders encourage their members to join the protests is purely political and not in the best interest of their members. And what about the many small businesses and their employees that can't operate because of the chaos on the Occupy streets? What about the inflow and outflow of products being blocked by anarchists at the Port of Oakland? Much of what was blocked at the port is needed by, or is being exported by, small businesses and their employees who are part of the 99 percent of America that the group supposedly represents.

The Occupy movement is now out of control and local governments must enforce the laws. No more spineless, wishy-washy political dodging of what must be done. Peaceful protest is a right we have, as demonstrated by the folks here in Redding, but once protests violate the rights of others and/or existing safety and sanitation laws, elected officials are obligated to take enforcement actions. Our president, especially, should speak out against violence and other illegal activities that are occurring in our cities. Maybe that message would give the local officials in hiding some backbone to act.